The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-16
BECOMING BEAUTIFUL.


The Expression Is the Pressing Out of the
Soul Misunderstanding the Eyes of the
Soul Toward God.
Every one has more or less desire to
be beautiful; and we start with the as
sertion that one can cause beauty in
the face which will be recognized by
all.
Is the desire for beauty a laudable
one? Is beauty always blessing? One
kind of beauty is, indeed, often a curse:
but that which each one holds the
power to make or mar" is never
otherwise than a benefactiOn to the
race; so, with clear conscience, we
can ''try for it, as earnestly as we
please. But we are, whether we make
any effort or not, molding our faces day
by day; therefore. all-impOrtant is it
that we learn to give them beauty, not
u%linesS.
Let us have clear idea of that in
which beauty of face consists If you
say in the shape of the nose, the size of
the mouth. the color of the eyes, etc,
no one can tell how you change these.
If your eyes are gray, gray they must
remain. But we demur at the assertion
that beauty consists in faultless fea-
lures. Have you never seen such a
face which was positively homely?
which awakened feelings of disgust?
On the other hand, have you not often
exclaimed, What beautiful FACET
and when you critically examined the
different features, not one was artistic
ally perfect? Surely, no one can be
truly beautiful without that which will
give loneliness to the plainest counte-
nance, that subtle something We call
expression.
What, then, is expression? 1t is
nothing in itself. 1t is the expressing
the pressing Out-of that within; the
inner, unseen, heart, soul, or, perhaps,
if we say spirit of the person, it will
comprehend all. As one of our popu-
lar contemporaneous preachers words
it: I'VE don't have to put on much to
look well-it is to put in much" AS
with diseases, the physician does not
only apply outward remedies to the ex-
ternal spot where the pain is located,
but endeavors TO set right the internal
organ whose disordered condition
causes the suffering; he does not cure
a sick headache by bathing the throb-
bling temples alone, but by helping the
digestive apparatus to work properly.
So tho remedy for a disagreeable coun-
tenance must be applied to the inward
cause, an evil spirit. Bathing the head
may alleviate the pain, so the putting
on u cheerful or disconsolate face will
affect the spirit.
| once read, somewhere, of a Young
man who, much against his taste and
inclination, was persuaded to take part
in some private theatricals. He de-
termined TO do his best, and, studying
before mirror, endeavored to give
his face the expression of jealousy and
envy which the character he was to
personate demanded. His success was
perfect Indeed, more was accom-
plished than he had Intended The
forced position of his features seemed
to have worked a corresponding trans
formation in his spirit; so that. after
the performance of the play, he could
look upon his betrothed with only the
green eyes of jealousy; and it was by
means of her faithful efforts alone that
he was brought to his right mind.
The saying that smiles will dispel
the traces of recent tears is in accord
ance with this idea; for. put your mouth
IN a laughing position, and the heart
is lightened; and this cheerfulness is
again mirrored in the face, and the
lines made by pleasure are contrary to
those formed by sadness
Right here, 1 should say that, al |
though features may not be changed at |
will. lines of the face are altered by |
the habitual cheeriness, fretfulness. or |
melancholy of the individual. Heather |
devotees hold an arm in one position
until they can not move it; so our
faces, to certain extent, become fixed /
in the positions most frequently given
them. For proof, you have only to
notice the-wrinkles, shall we call |
them7 in the foreheads, about the cor
ners Of the eyes Or mouths of your &C
GuaiRtances ~